Omdia: foldable displays shipments will increase 44% this year with a focus on wide foldables

Market research firm Omdia forecasts that shipments of foldable displays will increase by 44% this year, following a 12% decline in the previous year.

This forecast specifically pertains to the inner displays of foldables rather than the devices themselves, indicating a potential delay between the shipment of display components and the final products.

According to Omdia, approximately 29 million foldable displays are expected to be shipped this year. While this figure does not directly correlate to the number of foldable phones shipped, it suggests a positive trend for the foldable form factor.

Notably, displays for wide foldables are projected to account for 44% of total shipments this year, indicating that this newer form factor is gaining substantial market share. The other two form factors include the larger, squarer book-style foldables and the smaller flip-style models.

The surge in demand is largely attributed to the popularity of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and the Apple iPhone Duo. This trend is particularly beneficial for Samsung Display, which manufactures the panels for both devices. Omdia anticipates that Samsung Display will capture a dominant 66% market share, while competitors such as BOE, China Star, Tianma, and Visionox may see their shares decline.

Currently, demand for foldables is reportedly weak in China. However, there is a growing interest among Chinese consumers in the wide foldable market, suggesting that competition may intensify. Huawei was a pioneer in this form factor, but other manufacturers have been slower to embrace its potential.

Additionally, most foldable displays produced this year will be of the LTPO type, which, despite being more expensive, offer superior control over refresh rates compared to LTPS displays. Given the high price point of foldable devices, manufacturers are likely to opt for the best display technology available.

Source: GSMArena